REFEREE Ian Frickleton was escorted from Shielfield Park through a side entrance by stewards after a string of controversial decisions left Berwick Rangers back on the bottom of the Scottish Second Division.

A small group of fans had waited outside the main entrance to confront the official.

Manager Paul Smith was also furious with the referee as he fumed: "I don't mind losing a game so long as we are beaten fairly and squarely.

"But on this one, I honestly think we were cheated and that's one thing I cannot stand."

Smith accused Mr Frickleton of blunders with a series of decisions. "I thought he was wrong with both penalty awards and also the sending-off.

"So far as the first was concerned, when he awarded hand-ball the linesman was in a far better place to see what really happened and he did not signal for anything.

"And the second I can only describe as ludicrous. He sent Grant McNicoll off for an absolutely fair tackle in the penalty area."

Queens manager John Connolly agreed with Smith's sentiments. "There's no doubt about it, I can sympathise with Berwick on this one.

"In my mind both penalties were harsh to say the least but things do against you at times and that's what happened to Rangers.

"Naturally I am delighted with the result, because it means we are now unbeaten in our five matches away from home."

Berwick's stand-in skipper Alan Neill was desperately unlucky when he scored an own goal on 30 minutes as he attempted to clear a cross under pressure from Peter Weatherson.

Then he could only hold his head in disbelief when a Craig Feroz cross clearly appeared to strike him on the arm in the box but the referee it was deliberate and pointed to the spot.

John O'Neil made no mistake with his bullet shot in 50 minutes and repeated the performance in 74 minutes.

Mr Frickleton ruled McNicol who had earlier been booked had deliberately tripped Feroz as he burst through and again awarded a penalty. In the dying minutes, Neil and Sandy Robertson failed to clear the ball leaving Gordon Connelly the easiest of tasks to score.